Someone You Should Know
Carlyne Gilbert
Temple Member since 1988
Established the Carlyne Gilbert Social Action Fund, September
1995.
Lives in Mount Dora, Florida
While in town for the High
Holy Days, Carlyne Gilbert was
invited to join us for lunch to
share some of her stories and
memories from when she was
Temple Chai’s Social Action
Chair. Members of the Temple
Chai staff, the Hineini task
force, and our clergy enjoyed
an afternoon discussing and
learning from this lovely and
vivacious woman.
In 1995, Rabbi Hart
recommended Carlyne for a seat
on the Commission on Social
Action of Reform Judaism with
these words, “I do not know anyone who better represents the spirit
of Tikkun Olam and Prophetic Judaism than Carlyne. She is not
merely an activist, but one whose deeds of caring and compassion
exemplify the best of our tradition.”
From our interview with Carlyne Gilbert:
Q. How did you get involved in social action?
A. I grew up in an environment of social action. My mother used to
tell me, “The most important thing we can do in our lifetime is to
help others less fortunate.” When I was 10, I visited the school for
emotionally disturbed children where my mother volunteered and
I realized that music and drama could be helpful to these children.
To this day I perform and organize other musicians to entertain the
mentally challenged and those with Alzheimer’s and Autism.
Q. What is one of your favorite memories from Temple Chai?
A. I loved being one of the founders of Rainbows, a program which
helps children of divorced or broken homes to adjust. I worked
with Rainbows and I taught these children. It was a wonderful
experience.
food in the evenings and sometimes staying overnight. I organized
over 140 Temple Chai volunteers to help at 24 PADS sites. More
volunteers came from Temple Chai than anywhere else.
In addition I was very involved with the Action for Soviet Jewry
at a time when the Russian Jews were finally allowed to leave the
Soviet Union with thousands of them coming to the Chicago
area. After spending time teaching English to Russian immigrants
in Haifa, Israel, I initiated a
Jewish-Russian Immigrant
Conversation Club at Temple
Chai; adopted the city of Kazan,
Russia to help them retain
their Jewish identity; organized
family-to-family groups between
Temple Chai members and
new Russian immigrants; and
found homes for Russian Jews to
celebrate the Jewish holidays.
Q. What other activities do you
enjoy doing?
A. I am a musician. I sing, play
piano, and direct musicals. My
most recent productions are
“An Evening with Jerry Herman on Broadway,” and “Eddie Canter,
Beyond Makin’ Whoopee!” I continue to be involved with what
is happening at Tem